Instrument cases



June 16, 1964 C. TYLL INSTRUMENT CASES Filed Aug. 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l BUE@ pff/@LOL June 16, 1964 c. TYLL 3,137,532

INSTRUMENT CASES Filed Aug. 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHQ/2155 7h L www ATTORNEY June 16, 1964 Q TYLL 3,137,532

INSTRUMENT CASES ATTORNEY June 16, 1964 c. TYLL INSTRUMENT CASES Filed Aug. 29, 1962 55 l`57 j-./G

INVENTOR TYLL BYMK HTTO/QNE V United States Patent O 3,137,532 INSTRUMENT CASES Charles Tyll, 150 Passaic St., Passaic, NJ. Filed Aug. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 220,198 6 Claims. (Cl. 312--29) My invention relates to cases kand more particularly to instrument cases for supporting instruments in operative positions.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an instrument case capable of supporting the instrument above the ground in a level position for operation.

Another ,object of my invention is to provide an instrument case of the foregoing described character equipped with means for denoting thelevel position of the instrument and with supporting means readily adjustable for disposing the instrument in said level position.

A further object of my invention is to provide an instrument case of the foregoing described character which is provided with a plurality of supporting members which are independently and gravitationally adjustable relative to the ground to facilitate a desired positioning of the instrument,

A still further object of my invention is to provide a case of the foregoing described character wherein the supporting means may be readily operated by a single operator in an expeditious manner.

An important object of my invention is to provide a case of the foregoing described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation, economical in manufacture, capable of housing and protecting an instrument when not in use, and lending itself to the ready transportation of the instrument when housed within the case.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood yby those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my invention with the case being closed;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the case, partly broken away, in an open and upright position;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the invention with the case being open and illustrating a camera in operating position above the case;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the case in open position;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view ofthe casein closed position;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view of the case on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a detail sectional View of a lower corner of the case and illustrating the latch bar in connected relation with one of the tackles;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the case illustrating the position of the legs when extended, the cover being shown in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but illustrating a modified form wherein adjacent legs extend in right angular relation to each other.

In one embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 9 of the drawings, I provide an elongated case 12 having front, rear, side, bottom and top walls 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, respectively. The top wall 17 con- 3,137,532 yPatented June 16, 1964 ICE stitutes a cover hinged, las at 18, to the upper end of the front wall 13 and is secured to the rear wall 14, when in closed position, by means of a catch 19. The rear wall 14 is provided with a handle 20 to facilitate carrying of the case in a horizontal condition. Disposed within the case, is a cylindrical standard or rod 21 having its lower end xed to the bottom Wall 16. The upper end of the rod 21 is connected to a plate 22 secured to the front wall 13 and an adjacent side wall 15. A leveling device 23 is mounted in the plate 22 to enable an operator to effect leveling of the case in an uprightkposition for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

The rod 21 has slidably mounted thereon one end of an elongated support or shelf 24 adapted to be locked in a xed position on the rod by means of a manually operated latch 25. An instrument, for instance, a carnera 26 is mounted on the shelf 24 and, upon lowering of the shelf 24 on the rod 21, the camera 26 is disposed in a storage position within the bottom section of the case or, upon raising the shelf, disposed in an operating position at the top of the case as shown in FIGURE 3. The opposite end of the shelf 24 is provided with a depending sleeve 2S which slidably receives therein a guide pin 29 secured to the bottom wall 16 to prevent lateral movement of the shelf and camera when in a lowered position, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, thereby preventing engagement of the camera 26 with the side walls or other components of the case when in said storage or lowered position.

Interiorly, the case is provided with a quaternary of U-shaped channels 36 having incurvated outer side margins and with each of said channels extendingfrom an upper corner of the case downwardly to an opposite corner. One pair of the channels 30 are arranged adjacent oppositely disposed side walls 15, respectively, while the other pair are disposed in side-by-side relationship in proximity to the rear wall 14 as illustrated in the drawings, particularly FIGURE 4. The upper and lower ends ofthe channels 30 are secured in xed relation with the case and each has slidably mounted therein case supporting means or U-shaped legs 31 which are adapted to be operated by gravity to extended positions below the bottom wall 16 to engage the ground for supporting the case 12 above the ground as depicted in FIGURE 3. The sides of the legs 31 engage the incurvated outer side margins of the channels 30 to maintain the legs slidably within the channels, while the respective connecting portions of the legs are each provided with a brake lining 32 to provide an appropriate gripping surface for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

A bracket 33 is mounted on the bottom wall 16, adjacent each channel 30, and has pivoted thereto, by a pivot pin 34, one end of a brake or latch bar 35. The opposite end 36 of the bar 35 is provided with an eye 37 and extends into the channel and engages the lining 32 of the leg 31. A relatively strong coil spring 37a is sleeved about the pin 34 and has its ends disposed against the bar 35 and a'pin in the bracket 33, respectively, whereby the end 36 of the bar 35 is urged toward the leg and into anchored relation with lining 32 to maintain the leg 31 in a fixed position relative to the channel.

In order that the bars 35 may be easily yoperated against the tensions of the springs 37a to elfect disengagement with the linings 32 and permit movement of the legs relative to the channels, I employ, for each of the bars, a block and tackle T equipped with a pair of spaced blocks 38 and 39, respectively. The block 38 is provided with a pair of sheaves 40 and 41, while the block 39 is likewise equipped with a pair of sheaves 42and 43, respectively. The block 39 is lixed to an adjacent wall by means of a bolt or the like while the other block 38 is provided with an eye 44 to which is connected one end of a pull cable 45 trained over a pulley 46 mounted on the adjacent wall, the opposite end of the cable 45 being conected to the eye 37 of the bar 35. A tackle operating cable 4S has a lower end connected to the block 39 and is sequentially trained about the sheaves 41, 42, 40 and 43, respectively, as illustrated in the drawings.

inasmuch, as four tackles T are employed for operating the bars 35, the four cables 48 extend individually upwardly from the sheaves 43 and are connected to a lever 5@ pivoted as at 51 to the upper end of one of the side walls in proximity to the rear wall 14 as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. Obviously, by raising the lever 50 upwardly from its lowered position, shown in FIGURE 5, the cables 48 will operate the tackles T which in turn will move the cables 45 and thus release the latch bars 35 from engagement with the linings 32, whereby, when the case is lifted upwardly, the legs will gravitate downwardly therefrom and engage the ground.

The upper ends of the side walls 15 are formed with semi-circular openings 53 and 54 to define a pair of handles 55 and 56, respectively, for vertically lifting the case. The upper surfaces of these side Walls are formed With slots 57 communicating with the openings and through which are received inner closure members 5S carried by the cover 17 for closing the openings 53 and 54 when the cover is in closed position7 the opening 53 being slightly larger than the opening 54. Outer closure members 59 are also provided on the cover 17 for disposal outwardly over the openings 53 and 54 to insure effective closing thereof.

In use--assuming the case is closed and in the carrying position shown in FIGURE l-it is upended to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereupon the cover is opened and arranged forwardly of the front Wall 13 and for use as a tray if desired. In this position, the shelf 24 is raised and latched in a fixed position on the rod 21 to dispose the camera 26 in its operating position as also shown in FIGURE 5. When the camera is thus positioned, the operator extends the fingers of the left hand through the opening 54 and grasps the handle S6 and, at the same time, extends the right hand through the opening 53 in a manner wherein the arm, adjacent the hand, engages the underface of the handle 55 thus enabling the operator to lift the case above the ground a desired camera operating distance. Simultaneously with the litfing of the case, the operator grasps the lever 50 with the fingers of the right hand and pivots the lever upwardly thereby releasing the legs by the operation of the tackles T with the result that the legs gravitate downwardly and engage the ground. It is to be understood that the legs may extend different distances relative to each other to accord with the contour of the ground, as depicted in FIGURE 3. When the legs initially engage the ground, the case is shifted relative to the legs to effect leveling thereof to accord with the indication of the leveling device 23. When the case is thus leveled, the lever Si? is released permitting the same to pivot downwardly with the result that the bars 35 engage the linings 32 and lock the legs 31 in adjusted positions relative to the channels 3i). In this position, the camera is ready for operation without removal from the shelf, the case thus serving as a substantially rigid support for the camera.

Upon completion of the use of the camera, the shelf 24 may be lowered to dispose the camera within the lower section of the case and the lever 50 raised to permit the legs 31 to be pushed upwardly into the channels 30 by forcing the case downwardly toward the ground. When the legs are thus retracted, the lever 50 is released to permit the bars to again lock the legs in their retracted positions and the cover 17 closed and latched thus permitting the case to be readily transported and in the carrying position illustrated in FIGURE l. As diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 9, the legs 31, adjacent the rear wall 14, extend laterally of the case while the other pair of the legs extend forwardly thereof in order that the Zone adjacent the rear of the case will not be obstructed by the legs.

In the modified form illustrated in FIGURE 10, the legs 31 are so arranged that each leg extends in right angular relation to an adjacent leg thus permitting the legs to be extended in a manner to effect a more efiicient balance of the case on ground that has an extremely uneven surface.

The interior size of the case and the arrangement of the components therein is such that various equipment, for instance, rolls of lm and the like, may be conveniently stored therein without interference with the camera and the raising and lowering of the shelf 24, and which equipment would add weight to the bottom of the case to impart a steadying effect thereon when the case is set up for use.

The upper ends of the side walls 15 are provided with relatively wide reinforcing edges 15a to lend rigidity thereto and through which the slots 57 extend as well as the handles being formed therefrom. The upper ends of the legs 31 are each provided with a projecting finger 31a for engaging a stop or a cross-member 30a fixed to the respective channel 30, adjacent its lower end, to prevent the leg from gravitating out of the channel should the case be raised an excessive distance above the ground. The lower end of each leg 31 has secured thereto, outwardly of the case and by pin 31b, a rubber foot 31e for engaging the ground. The foot 31e has enough movement relative to the leg to permit its at bottom face to engage the surface of the ground in substantially adpressed relation therewith.

Due to the arrangement of the tackles Within the case, one pair of the cables 48, between their sheaves 43 and the lever 50, are trained about a pair of pulleys 48a, respectively, mounted within a bracket 48h secured to the bottom wall I6 of the case. Due to the relatively small scale of FIGURE 2, the arrangement of the channels 30 is diagrammatically depicted without a showing of the legs in connection therewith.

While I have shown and described my invention for use in connection for the storing and supporting of a camera, it is to be understood that any other suitable instrument, for example, a transit may also be used in conjunction with the case.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined solely to the use herein disclosed in connection therewith as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles involved which are capable of extended application in various forms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. Means for storing and mounting an instrument comprising, a Walled case for receiving and storing said instrument when not in use and having a top and bottom, said case being adjusted above a supporting surface to an instrument supporting position coinciding with an operational position of said instrument when mounted for use adjacent said top, a plurality of legs slidably and independently carried by said case relative to each other and being gravitationally operated downwardly from said case upon raising of said case above said surface to effect engagement of said legs with said surface for supporting said case in said supporting position, said legs capable of extending relatively varying distances downwardly from said bottom to compensate for inequalities in said surface and thus permit said case to assume said supporting position, and latch means carried by said case and operable for simultaneously locking said legs at said distances below said bottom, respectively. f

2. Means for storing and mounting an instrument comprising, a walled case for receiving and storing said instrument when not in use and having a top, bottom, and upper and lower corners defined by said top and bottom, respectively, said case being adjusted above a supporting surface to an instrument supporting position coinciding with an operational position of said instrument when mounted for use adjacent said top, instrument supporting means adjustably mounted within said case and operable for disposing the instrument in storage position adjacent said bottom and in said operational position adjacent said top, respectively, a plurality of legs each slidably and independently mounted within said case relative to the other legs and extending downwardly therein at an angle from one of said upper corners to an opposite lower corner, said legs being gravitationally operated out of said case at said angle upon raising of said case above said surface to effect engagement of said legs with said surface for supporting said case in said supporting position, said legs being of definite lengths and capable of extending relatively varying distances downwardly from said bottom to insure positioning of said case in said supporting position, and latch means carried by said case and operable for simultaneously locking said legs within said case and in said distances from said bottom, respectively.

3. Means for storing and mounting an instrument comprising, a walled case for receiving and storing said instrument when not in use and having a top, bottom, and upper and lower corners defined by said top and bottom, respectively, said case being adjusted above a supporting surface to an instrument supporting position coinciding with an operational position of said instrument when mounted for use adjacent said top, instrument supporting means adjustably mounted within said case and operable for disposing the instrument in storage position adjacent said bottom and in said operational position adjacent said top, respectively, a plurality of legs each slidably and independently mounted within said case relative to the other legs and extending downwardly therein at an angle from one of said upper corners to an opposite lower corner, said legs being gravitationally operated out of said case at said angle upon raising of said case above said surface to effect engagement of said legs with said surface for supporting said case in said supporting position, said legs being of definite lengths and capable of extending relatively varying distances downwardly from said bottom to insure positioning of said case in said supporting position, latch members carried by said bottom and engaging said legs for locking the latter within and out of said case, respectively, and being operable to release said legs for engagement with said surface, and actuating means carried by said case adjacent said top and connected to said latch members for operating the latter, said actuating means being arranged for operation thereof upon raising of the case above said surface whereby said legs engage said surface at distances below said bottom to permit said case to assume said supporting position.

4. Means for storing and mounting an instrument comprising, a case for receiving and storing said instrument when not in use and having a top, bottom, sides, and upper and lower corners defined by said top and bottom, respectively, said case being adjusted above a supporting surface to an instrument supporting position coinciding with an operational position of said instrument when mounted for use adjacent said top, instrument supporting means carried by said case for disposing the instrument in said operational position adjacent said top, a plurality of legs slidably and independently mounted relative t each other within said case adjacent said sides and extending downwardly thereinat an angle from one of said upper corners to an opposite lower corner, said legs being gravitationally operated out of said case at said angle upon raising of said case above said surface to elfect engagement of said legs with said surface for supporting said case in said supporting position, said legs being of definite lengths and capable of extending relatively varying distances downwardly from said bottom to insure positioning of said case in said supporting position, latch members carried by said bottom and engaging said legs for locking the latter within and out of said case, respectively, and being operable to release said ylegs for engagement with said surface, and a lever pivoted to said `case adjacent said top and connected to said latch members for operating the latter, said lever being arranged for operation thereof upon raising of the case above said surface whereby said legs engage said surface at distances below said bottom to permit said case to assume said suppporting position.

5. Means for storing and mounting an instrument cornprising, a walled case for receiving and storing said instrument when not in use and having a top, bottom, and upper and lower corners defined by said top and bottom, respectively, said case being provided with handles for raising said case above a supporting surface to an instrument supporting position coinciding with an operational position of said instrument when mounted for use adjacent said top, instrument supporting means adjustably mounted within said case and operable for disposing the instrument in storage position adjacent said bottom and in said operational position adjacent said top, respectively, a plurality of legs slidably and independently mounted relative to each other Within said case and extending downwardly therein at an angle from one of said upper corners to an opposite lower corner, said legs being gravitationally operated out of said case at said angle upon raising of said case above said surface to effect engagement of said legs with said surface for supporting said case in said supporting position, said legs capable of extending relatively varying distances downwardly from said bottom to insure positioning of said case in said supporting position, latch members carried by said bottom and engaging said legs for locking 4the latter within and out of said case, respectively, and being operable to release said legs for engagement with said surface, and actuating means carried by said case adjacent said top and connected to said latch members for operating the latter, said actuating means being arranged adjacent one of said handles to facilitate operation of said actuating means upon raising of the case above said surface whereby said legs engage said surface at distances below said bottom to permit said case to assume said supporting position.

6. Means for storing and mounting an instrument comprising, a walled case for receiving and storing said instrument when not in use and having a top, bottom, sides, and upper and lower corners defined by said top and bottom, respectively, said case being adjusted above a supporting surface to an instrument supporting position coinciding with an operational position of said instrument when mounted for use adjacent said top, instrument supporting means adjustably mounted Within said case and operable for disposing the instrument in storage position adjacent said bottom and in said operational position adjacent said top, respectively, a plurality of legs slidably and independently mounted relative to each other within said case adjacent said sides and extending downwardly therein at an angle from one of said upper corners to an opposite lower corner, said legs being gravitationally operated out of said case at said angle upon raising of said case above said surface to effect engagement of said legs with said surface for supporting said case in said supporting position, said legs being of definite lengths and capable of extending relatively varying distances downwardly from said bottom to insure positioning of said case in said supporting position, latch members carried by said bottom and engaging said legs for locking the latter within and out of said case, respectively, and being operable to release said legs for engagement with said surface, and a lever pivoted to said case adjacent said top and connected to said latch members for operating the latter, said case being formed with oppositely disposed handles adjacent said top and with one of said handles being arranged relative to the lever to facilitate access thereto for pivoting thereof during raising of the case above said surface by said handles to thus permit said legs to be operated out of said case and engage said surface and thereby position said case in said supporting position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bayne May 13, Range Apr. 14, Parker Mar. 9, Ramsey Apr. 24, Trumo Nov. 20, Mayer Apr. 22, Waldo May 4, Berker Mar. 13, Noah June 20, Mark Dec. 4, Wiseman Dec. 18,

FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium Mar. 15, 

1. MEANS FOR STORING AND MOUNTING AN INSTRUMENT COMPRISING, A WALLED CASE FOR RECEIVING AND STORING SAID INSTRUMENT WHEN NOT IN USE AND HAVING A TOP AND BOTTOM, SAID CASE BEING ADJUSTED ABOVE A SUPPORTING SURFACE TO AN INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING POSITION COINCIDING WITH AN OPERATIONAL POSITION OF SAID INSTRUMENT WHEN MOUNTED FOR USE ADJACENT SAID TOP, A PLURALITY OF LEGS SLIDABLY AND INDEPENDENTLY CARRIED BY SAID CASE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND BEING GRAVITATIONALLY OPERATED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CASE UPON RAISING OF SAID CASE ABOVE SAID SURFACE TO EFFECT ENGAGEMENT OF SAID LEGS WITH SAID SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING SAID CASE IN SAID SUPPORTING POSITION, SAID LEGS CAPABLE OF EXTENDING RELATIVELY VARYING DISTANCES DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM TO COMPENSATE FOR INEQUALITIES IN SAID SURFACE AND THUS PERMIT SAID CASE TO ASSUME SAID SUPPORTING POSITION, AND LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CASE AND OPERABLE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY LOCKING SAID LEGS AT SAID DISTANCES BELOW SAID BOTTOM, RESPECTIVELY. 